The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-10-15
THE COUNTRY DANCE.


 with wonderful rapidity, and is stunning under" many of her crudi- ties, vet, in some of the less progress i've communities, the country dance still hourishes. Among the distin- guished qualities of the country dance may be mentioned the short haired girl with head like "kildce," and the young fellow whose breath grows stronger as the festivities advance. The girl brides herself upon her knack of saying things to make the "men folks" laugh, and the young fellow revels in the enjoyment of that cum ming which he fancies has enabled him to hide his bottle where nobody oan find it.
 At country dance the principal fiddler is A character of underscored importance. He may be liar of such celebrity that no one in the ncighbor- hood will believe him, and he may raise such poor crops that he k held in universal contempt, yet, when he makes his appearance at country dance, every one gives way to him and cheerfully subscribcs to the arti- clcs of his superiority. The old man at whose house the dance is given, sits on the step ladder stairs leading to the loft where the boys sleep, laughs at the witty, short haired girl until the tobaccoed saliva, running down on his gray whiskers, gives them at momentary glance the appearance of n piece of bacon-"streak O lean and streak O fat" He takes drink out of the young fellows bottle and apol- ogizcs, not that he has taken such large drink. but that his "rhcumatiz" or some other inhrmity ncccssltatcs his drinking at all. He has refused to permit the fiddler, in his private character, to visit his daughters but now that the grand role has been es- saved, he will permit the tune-tor turcr to joke with Emelinc or famil- iarly tap the shoulder of Polly May.
 The music begins, the house shakes, the lights dance and the loose boards of the floor flap like an enragcd gan der. After awhile the cunning young fellow returns from visit to woods lot and declares that somebody has stolen his bottle. He does not an- nounce the theft to the company but speaks 1t confidentially to the old man.
 That's strange" says the old fcl- low, mighty strange. Who you reckon tuck it?"
 "I don't kn0w-wush 1 did, fur I'd give him a warmth that he wouldn't furgit agin next fodder pullin'. It's mighty curi's that man can't go nowhar without havin' his bottle tuck away rum him."
 "Yes, it is,0 the old fellow rejoins, "an' it sorter argys agin me bein' the right sort O man."
 How so?"
 "W'y, to allow sich thing on my place"
 "Oh, no, Uncle Jimmy, oh, DO you couldn't hep it. You kain't watch cver'whars at the same time, an, sides that, 1t aift yore place to watch fellers' bottles"
 The young fellow gets his partner and "balances all" and Uncle Jimmy pats his foot and, holding at old Mrs. Simmons, says: "Oh, you better be- lieve could git thar too when was younger"
 Another fellow comes up and says 'Tn ncle Jimmy, whut you reckon!"
 Don't know, Tobe. WhutS"
 "Some blamed teller has stole my bottle"
 Hush, you don't tell mel"
 "Yes, do, an it's mighty strange. I thought shore that nobody wouldn't find it. Wy, alter put 1t back thar under the eend of that log, rolled a chunk agin it."
 Mighty sorry, Dave-pcwcrfuL Yes, see you in a minit," turning to another man who has just come Ep. Dave goes away. ."Weil, Dan, how